Newbie with ?'s (mustard algae) (Deb)

[debs_pool]

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to help me out. I've ordered one of Ben's kits (yesterday) after reading TONS of great material about pools on this site! (And Thanks for all the good advice too! Now, I need to learn how to apply some of that wonderful advice!

Here's my pool numbers with a Wal-Mart HTH drop kit:
(Note: My first time to do this myself :confused: -- I usually just take everything to the pool store to have it checked. In fact, I guess I just believe everything they say; because I never even get a print out or anything! They just tell me what I need -- and I buy it!):eek:

So when they told me I had "mustard algae" they said I needed to buy some BANISH (man is that stuff high $$$!) and I put that in my pool an hour (beccause that's what they told me to do) after I shocked the pool (with Burn Out Extreme) (sometimes use Everday Chlorinating Granules) and brushed the walls.

I still see spots of this "yellow algae" on the bottom and on the wall sides. Should I brush every night? Do I shock every night? I'm very confused.:confused:

This afternoon:

pH - 7.2
Cl - 5 ppm
Total Alkalinity - 160 ppm
CYA - 60 ppm
Hardness - never changed to red color (I have a vinyl pool, so does this matter?)

Are these all the numbers I need? Does it look like I did this right? My pool info is in my signature. Also, I just had my sand changed last week and that cost $130! (mostly for labor!)

Thanks in advance for your help/suggestions/advice!:) Please let me know of any additional information you might need.

[CarlD]

Raise your FC to 20ppm with bleach and keep it there until the algae is dead. Test 2 to 3x/day and add bleach to keep the FC up.

Brush and vacuum to waste every day and keep the FC up for a day or two after it's perfectly clear.

Simple to fix. Simple, but not easy.

[debs_pool]

Carl,

Thank you for your response. I'll go dump some bleach in my pool! : ) And I'll do the vacuum to waste task! I have been vacuuming my pool after brushing. I will work on this tonight and tomorrow and repost some numbers on Monday. Thanks again.

P.S. I'm not sure I exactly understand this FC. Am I trying to raise my Cl # to 20 ppm? Thanks.

[Madty]

It will be hard to get FC, TC, CC from the Wal Mart testers. I got my Ben's test yesterday- AWESOME. I've had mustard algea this week as well. I put in Yellow Out and boy did it eat my chlorine. I brush daily and it continued to return in the same spots. It's been about 4 days and it looks as though it's all gone. Don't think you needed to change filter sand. Bleach, bleach, bleach. Mine was at 22.5 FC 0 cc, today 16 FC, 0 cc. You must keep it high for a couple of days. Keep brushing daily. It will work. I've went through about 20 jugs of bleach this week!

[debs_pool]

Madty,

Thanks for your response. Can anyone tell me is it okay to swim while I'm working on this? :confused: I have people asking if they can come swim.

Thanks for everyone's help.

And, yes, it will be GREAT when I get a REAL test kit! :)

[CarlD]

No, I cannot recommend it. The algae will consume your chlorine leaving you with none to protect against the important stuff--water-borne diseases from viruses and bactera.

[Simmons99]

I wouldn't swim with the chlorine at shock levels

[debs_pool]

Thanks again in advance. I have more ?'s.

I brushed the walls on my pool last night and put in bleach. I'm not sure if I've put in too much now or not.
(I run my pump 24/7)

Also, I vacuumed to waste and had to add a bunch of water. Do I need to vacuum to waster EVERY time until this clears up? It looks like it's better - just a few places on the walls ...

Here are my Guess Strips and then my Wal-Mart test kit readings from this AM and this afternoon:

AM: (before church)
Test (Guess) Strips:

Br - (is this cl?) 10
FC - 10 (no higher number on container)
Tot Alk - between 125 - 150
pH: 7.4
CYA (not available on test strip)

Wal Mart Kit - AM

TC 10 + (the water was orange and didn't match anything) What does that mean?
FC - (can't test with Wal-Mart kit)
Tot Alk - 190 ppm
pH: 7.2
CYA 80 ppm

Here are my afternoon readings (about 2pm CST)

Guess Strip:
Br(cl?) 5-10 (closer to 10)
FC: 10
pH: 7.4
Tot Alk: 125

Wal-Mart Kit

Cl: 10+ (still orange color - didn't match anything)
FC: (no test on kit)
Tot Alk: 160 ppm
pH: 7.3
CYA: 60 ppm

Do I need to take another reading today after the sun's off my pool?

I'm wondering HOW MUCH BLEACH do I need to put in the pool tonight? (After I brush the walls of course!)

The shallow end is pretty clear. I can see the main drain on the deep end, but the water is not as clear as the shallow end.

Will I need to vacuum to waste again in the morning?

Please forgive me for asking so many questions, (I have more but they probably belong in other threads) but I really want to learn. Maybe Ben's kit will arrive this week!

And I hope nobody comes and gets in my pool when I am not at home! That has happened to me before! :eek:

I know I need to have some patience too. Thanks for being patient with me!

[Madty]

I only vacuumed to waste once. I have kept my chlorine around 20, CYA 30. I do brush daily. I barely had any today. I used to come back a couple of hours after I swept. Use bleach calc to determine shock amount. Keep at it- mine took about a week. We did swim at 20 pm. Some irritated eyes but that's about it. I'm waiting till it gets down to 5 from now on!:D

[dawndenise]

debs_pool: I am also a newbie but can answer a few of your questions. Hopefully, more knowledgeable advice will continue to follow from others.

I used the hTh 6-way Wal-Mart test kit prior to receiving Ben's. When I was trying to kill the "stuff" in the pool, I called the 800# on the package to see what color my chlorine test would be if I had MORE than 5ppm. They said it would be an orange color.

How are you measuring chlorine at 10+ with the hTh Wal-Mart kit? Are you using the shot glass method?

To know how much bleach to put into your pool, follow madty's advice and use the Bleach Calculator, referenced in various threads. Based on your pool size and how much you want to increase your chlorine reading, it will calculate how much 5.25% bleach or 6% bleach you will need. It will even calculate how much bleach if you use a bargain brand with a much lower concentration. There are lots of other very helpful calculations available with that tool, as well.

Follow CarlD's advice...that's it in a nutshell! Good luck!

Sandy

[debs_pool]

Looks like it's getting better - just a few spots on the top step and a few on the floor -- don't see much on the walls now. I'm going to vacuum and backwash -- I think it might rain later today! Geesh!


I'd love some FEEDBACK from on the following:

My Numbers (Wal-Mart) (AM)

TC 5+? (orange color)

pH 7.3

Total Alk 160

CYA (didn't have any reagent to test)

NUMBERS FOR TODAY - FROM POOL STORE READ OUT

Total Chlorine: 10

Free Chlorine: 8.6

pH: 7.7

Total Alk: 130

CYA: 30

(The print out recommends I add 2.3 pt(s) of Muriatic Acid (because printout says my pH needs adjustment) -- but the pool store person told me I didn't need to add any acid.) We didn't discuss anything else the "test" suggtested. Also told me my pool was swimmable.

My printout printed out the following shopping list for me::rolleyes:

3 - 1 qt bottles scale inhibitor
1 - 1 qt bottle strip kwik
1- 1 qt bottle Kleen It
1 - 1 gal bottle Muriatic Acid
1 - Chem Out

I left with MY PRINTOUT! :D

[debs_pool]

debs_pool: I am also a newbie but can answer a few of your questions. Hopefully, more knowledgeable advice will continue to follow from others.

Thanks Dawn.

I used the hTh 6-way Wal-Mart test kit prior to receiving Ben's.

Yes, I'll be glad when I get Ben's kit! Carl probably will be too -- then I'll quit bugging him (maybe) so much! LOL

When I was trying to kill the "stuff" in the pool,
I would like the "stuff" in the pool to be ME -- swimming. I'm tired of the other "stuff!"

I called the 800# on the package to see what color my chlorine test would be if I had MORE than 5ppm. They said it would be an orange color.

Thanks for that tip.

How are you measuring chlorine at 10+ with the hTh Wal-Mart kit? Are you using the shot glass method?

I think I must have accidentally read the Bromine line. What's the shot glass method? If I drank, I might use that method --test -- drink a shot -- test drink a shot -- ;) Heck, this may drive me to drink!

To know how much bleach to put into your pool, follow madty's advice and use the Bleach Calculator, referenced in various threads. Based on your pool size and how much you want to increase your chlorine reading, it will calculate how much 5.25% bleach or 6% bleach you will need. It will even calculate how much bleach if you use a bargain brand with a much lower concentration. There are lots of other very helpful calculations available with that tool, as well.

I'm working on figuring out the bleach calculator. Yes, it has lots of helpful calculations available -- and when I know what I'm doing they'll be very helpful! LOL

Follow CarlD's advice...that's it in a nutshell! Good luck!

I will certainly follow CarlD's advice -- he has been very kind to respond and I certainly appreciate his help very much -- and anyone else who has helped me -- thanks to you too!

Sandy

Thanks again and I'm looking forward to some feedback on my numbers from the pool store!

[brent.roberts]

Here's where to get the bleachcal program that we've been talking about.

Note that this program is designed to give you the amounts of chemicals to add to achieve the desire CHANGE. Not the end level.

So if you want to increase the chlorine from 10 to 15ppm you put in 5. That's the increase you want.

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Emwsmith70/data/BleachCalc262.exe

This great little program was created by a forum member. Micheal Smith.

Also when you get your chlorine levels above 5 everything reads the same .. as you've discovered. ORANGE.

To get a better indication until Ben's kit arrives, get some distilled water.

Make a 50/50 mix of distilled water and pool water, put that in the test vial and run the test as instructed. Then if you get a color in the test range, multiply the result by 2.

If you still get an orange Over Max reading then change the dillution to 3 parts distilled to 1 part pool water. Multiply the result by 3. This should get you close. At least it will tell you if you're closer to 20PPM than 6PPM

Good luck.

PS The brushing is real important with this kind of algae. It will form a layer of dead stuff that sheilds some live stuff underneath. You need to brush that dead layer off real well and frequently to expose everything you need to kill.

[debs_pool]

Here's where to get the bleachcal program that we've been talking about.

Note that this program is designed to give you the amounts of chemicals to add to achieve the desire CHANGE. Not the end level.

So if you want to increase the chlorine from 10 to 15ppm you put in 5. That's the increase you want.

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Emwsmith70/data/BleachCalc262.exe

This great little program was created by a forum member. Micheal Smith.
I've downloaded the calculator. And, yes, I need to thank Michael Smith. That was kind of him to do that.

So I put these numbers in:

Pool Size (gal): 22,655
Chlorine Strength: 6
Quantity (gal): 1
PPM Increase Desired: 11.4 (I THINK this is right -- not sure? Because Carl said I needed to get the FC up to 20 and my pool store read out today said it was 8.6. So is this the correct # to put here?

Then when I hit CALCULATE it reads

PPM Increase
2.6
and
Bleach Required
4.3 gallons

????

Also when you get your chlorine levels above 5 everything reads the same .. as you've discovered. ORANGE.
Thanks - yep - that's what I saw - ORANGE.

To get a better indication until Ben's kit arrives, get some distilled water.

Make a 50/50 mix of distilled water and pool water, put that in the test vial and run the test as instructed. Then if you get a color in the test range, multiply the result by 2.
I don't understand WHAT KIND OF TEST AM I DOING?
If you still get an orange Over Max reading then change the dillution to 3 parts distilled to 1 part pool water. Multiply the result by 3. This should get you close. At least it will tell you if you're closer to 20PPM than 6PPM

I guess I better "be patient" and wait on some answers ! I am planning to brush my pool again tonight? Should I pour this "4 gallons of bleach" according to the calculator in first?" I'm reading and reading and now I'm just confusing myself I think.

Good luck.

PS The brushing is real important with this kind of algae. It will form a layer of dead stuff that sheilds some live stuff underneath. (Oh :eek: so that's how it SNEAKS back in the pool! That tricky devil!You need to brush that dead layer off real well and frequently to expose everything you need to kill.

Again, thanks to EVERYONE who is helping me with this!

I don't guess I have an accurate way to "measure" the CC until I get Ben's kit.

Oh GREAT ... now there's lightning outside ... don't think I ought to be ought by the pool with metal poles to brush! Geesh!

[brent.roberts]

You on track with the bleachcalc.

The test is the same as you have been running to determine the chlorine levels.

Two things can happen here
1) when you get very high chlorine the indicator dyes seem to bleach out and give you a false low reading. Watch it when you first mix it. The color will be very intense for a couple seconds and then fade. It happens pretty fast. Diluting with distilled water can help avoid that.

2) you max out the test and have no idea how much you have gone beyond the limit.

This is important to understand with Chlorine levels but critical on the PH test.
You could be beyond the range ( most go from 7 to 8 ) and be dangerously acidic or basic and only thing you are at 7 ( or 8 ) when in fact the water could be 6.1 and look like 7. So with this test if you get a 7 or 8 do not swim until you fix it and fix it soon because you could be damaging your pool gear.

and yeah ... that's how it sneaks back and why some folks can fight it for 2 weeks and others will blow it away in 24 hours.
Get the chlorine levels up to the right level and keep them there. Don't wait 12 hours overnight to retest to see if its back down. Nail it again in 2 hours. If it has gone down its killing algae. When it stays high, you've got enough in there and you've almost killed it all.
The second half is not just having there, but make sure every last bit gets exposed to the chlorine with brushing. Most pool store sell a small round brush, somewhat like the pot scrubbers you use in the kitchen. Get one and use it in the corners, folds in the liner, around the drain and skimmer etc.

Good luck. I got a feeling you're going to blow it out fast.

[dawndenise]

Regarding the Bleach Calculator...When you input your numbers in this instance, the "quantity = 1 gallon" was unnecessary. Had you just input your pool volume, the 6% bleach concentration you planned on using and the desired ppm increase of 11.4, and then clicked on "calculate," you'd have only seen the 4.3 gallons of bleach needed to raise your pool's chlorine level 11.4ppm.

On the other hand....if you had input your pool's volume, the 6% bleach concentration you planned on using and indicated that you had just the quantity of 1 gallon of that bleach to use, the "calculate" function would have told you that your 1 gallon of 6% bleach would increase your pool's chlorine level 2.6ppm.

In essence, you made the calculator give you 2 different calculations at the same time. Hope this helps.

[Simmons99]

Just my $.02:

You cannot let the chlorine level go below 20ppm - otherwise the algae with start growing again - and you will never get rid of it.

Have some POP (pool owner patience) - my understanding is that if you truely have "mustard algae" - it is more resistant to chlorine and will take longer to kill it all.

[debs_pool]

REQUESTING FEEDBACK AND ENCOURAGMENT! : )

My NUMBERS FOR TODAY: (7/12/06) (ABOUT 4:30 PM CST)

With ME[B] testing: (with Wal-Mart Kit) (Ben's kit has been ordered!)

[B]pH 7.5-7.8

Cl 5+ (ORANGE color)
(It was still 5+ when I dilluted pool water by 1/2 with distilled water -- but was at least at the HIGHEST YELLOW level.

Total Alk: 170-180

CYA: Not Tested (don't have enough reagent) (I tried to buy some at a pool store today and the kid told me I didn't "want" that -- it was too expensive -- like $30 or something)

(He also said he prefered the "strips" to the drop kit -- OMG -- I think he may have "tested" my water with "strips" -- here are those #'s (written on an AquaCheck Pool and Spa Test Strips Page!):
(BTW - this is NOT my regular pool place.)

Total Hardness 1000 (he wanted be to buy some stuff for this -- but I didn't because I want to continue learning about this before I "do" anything on this one)
Total Chlorine: 5 - 10
FC 3 - 5

pH: 7.8
Total Alk: 180

Iron: 0 Copper: 0

I did buy a bottle of ALGICIL - ALGAECIDE (Poly) (oxyethylene (dimethylimnio) ........ 60% (I won't use it unless I need it but it was $19.99 plus tax and the 60% from Wal-Mart here is $25.88!

So -- I'm trying to keep my Chlorine (bleach) high -- but I don't really have the "correct" number. Carl told me I needed to keep at 20 ppm until this "mustard" algae is gone. I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing -- I will be glad when Ben's kit gets here (wish I'd found the site sooner! I'd have ordered sooner! LOL)

[aylad]

It's going to be next to impossible to accurately measure 20 ppm with the OTO kit, and I have zero faith in the pool store's numbers, so do the best you can until Ben's kit gets here with what you have. ..
The bottle of polyquat is the only type of algaecide we recommend on the forum, so it's not a bad buy--but I"ll let someone who uses it advise you on when to do so--I don't use it in my pool at all.

I doubt seriously your hardness number is 1000 (unless it's total hardness and not just calcium hardness), otherwise with your TA and ph where they are you'd have a pool full of milk. Don't buy anything to adjust it.

And I'd hate to see what happened to a sales person if I told him I wanted a bottle of CYA reagent and he said I didn't want that!!!!!!! Stick to your guns, if you ask for something, insist that they sell it to you--have confidence!!

Janet

[brent.roberts]

If you can find another pool store to do a test ... do it.

Your PH is higher than it should be at a time when you're trying to kill an algae bloom. You want to shoot for the low end of the range, like about 7.2

This makes the chlorine more effective as an oxidant and can almost double the effectiveness of PH near the 8 level.

Sure hope you get your kit from Ben real soon. It would be a big help now.

Sounds sorta ... kinda like you've got the chlorine level in the right ballpark. Keep the brush active. The algae the grows ON the pool is the hardest to kill off. The brush is critial.

[duraleigh]

Has your water changed since you posted last? Tell us what it looks like.....can you still see visible algae?......what's the clarity?

[waterbear]

If you can find another pool store to do a test ... do it.

Your PH is higher than it should be at a time when you're trying to kill an algae bloom. You want to shoot for the low end of the range, like about 7.2
Actually, when trying to kill algae a pH of around 7.8 will favor the formation of monochoramine which is extremely effective at killing algae but is very short lived. This is exactly how the ammonia based 'chlorine enhancer' type of algae killers work! If you do this be sure an keep the chlorine levels as constant as you can for best results.
This makes the chlorine more effective as an oxidant and can almost double the effectiveness of PH near the 8 level.

Sure hope you get your kit from Ben real soon. It would be a big help now.

Sounds sorta ... kinda like you've got the chlorine level in the right ballpark. Keep the brush active. The algae the grows ON the pool is the hardest to kill off. The brush is critial.
Hope this helps.

[debs_pool]

Has your water changed since you posted last? Tell us what it looks like.....can you still see visible algae?......what's the clarity?

18X36 regtangle 4ft deep then slopes to 6ft then to 8 ft ...

The shallow end is faily clear (not crystal clear) until it slopes off then the water is a little bit darker and gets to almost an dark aqua color in the deep end. I can see the sloped sides of the deep end and I can even see the main drain (not very well at all)

I will be glad when it gets crystal clear -- but it's hard to have POP sometimes! :D (especially for a newbie that's learning about my own pool stuff finally!)

It looks like there is some -- but a lot less of the mustard algae in a few areas -- the sloped walls in the deep end look better -- can't really see too much there now. There are a few places on the steps -- but a lot less.

I guess I will put more bleach (2 gal) in the pool in a bit and brush it again in a bit -- right now the sun is right on part of it.

I've brushed it 3X today. LOL Does this count for exercise?:D

I'm sure this would be easier if I had Ben's kit -- but I'm trying to work with my Wal-Mart special :rolleyes: until Ben's kit arrives. And, of course, I'm coming here to get advice too -- and I'll still do that even AFTER I get Ben's kit! :D I hope I'm not driving you guys/gals nutso! However, I am driving myself NUTSO!

Thank you for all your help. I appreciate it VERY VERY VERY much!

[brent.roberts]

this routine will certainly count for exercise, mentally and physically.

Evan thanks for that bit on the PH and fighting algae. Never saw anyone say anything like that here before. All the references I read ( not close to everything posted here however ) said pretty unanimously that 7.2 to 7.3 made chlorine more effective.

[debs_pool]

Yes, Evan, a great big THANK YOU! : ) I meant to thank you in my previous post -- but then I went off on a rant! LOL I appreciate EVERY ONE who has responded to my post! Thanks! You guys/gals are the best!:)

[duraleigh]

Hi, Deb,

It sounds like you are making a little progress, albeit slowly.

Since your dilution test seems to indicate around 10ppm, you'll need a little more than three gallons to bring it back up to 20....not the two gallons you indicated.

Since you've been on this about four days, I think you may be getting close based on your water description. Keep plugging the bleach in there, especially at night, and I think your pool will clear.

[duraleigh]

Evan,

based on your post, are you suggesting the most effective method for fighting algae would be to raise (hopefully not lower!) pH to 7.8 then attack it with Cl?

[debs_pool]

Comments and suggestions and encouragment requested AGAIN! Thanks to every one of who have responded to me by post or PM -- I appreciate you!
(P.S. Madty -- please clear your PM box! LOL)

So here are my NUMBERS FOR TODAY:

7/14/06 (tested w/Wal-Mart kit) (Woo-hoo - received email today to say Ben's kit has been shipped out to me!:D )

Cl: ORANGE / retested 1/2 pool water & 1/2 distilled water (yellow - kind of dark)
Also tested it with a Cl strip from my friend's janitorial supply place (best I can tell - it was in the 10 - 50 ppm range (guide went up to 200 ppm for the strip)

Ph: 7.3

TA: 150 ppm

CYA: no test (no reagent) (was 40 when tested by my local pool store 7/10)

Clarity of water:

Shallow End:[B] Clear -- but not "crystal clear"
Slope(s) to deep: Clear -- around edges -- could kind of see middle
Deep End: Can see sloped sides
Bottom w/main drain: can see drain but not clearly (but I think better than yesterday

I've been keeping the BLEACH bottles busy! :D I am planning on vacuuming to waste tomorrow morning (then I'll have to add tap water! or my pump won't run! LOL -- that's really not funny) -- and then keeping the bleach going again tomorrow. Today my grass was mowed -- so some dirt probably got in my pool too! Geesh! Is this a TEST OF POP?

I still have some Bioguard Sanitizer - Everyday Chlorinating Granules (Will I ever use these?) What do you do with "stuff that you got from the pool store before you found the pool forum?"

THANKS again for ALL your help! I appreciate VERY VERY much!

[debs_pool]

:D Woo-hoo! I got Ben's kit in the mail today!

My numbers are:

FC: 19
CC: 0
TC: 19
ph: 7.6
Alk: 160
Cal: 150
Cya: 40
Temp: 83.5
Tested about 4:15 CST

(I am going to post my 1st test #'s also in that thread.)

I believe this mustard algae is just about ALL GONE :) and the deep end of my pool is cloudy but I can see the main drain better.

I must have been keeping pretty consistent with the bleach and the high FC since I began this on MONDAY!

Do I continue? Can I decrease the bleach? But the main question I have is ... WHEN CAN I SWIM? WE ARE HAVING A MAJOR HEAT WAVE!!!!:eek:

Can we get in if we don't get the water in our eyes? And wash off right after?

THANKS TO ALL OF YOUR THAT HAVE HELPED ME! When I figure out how to take pics & post pics I'll send a shot so you can see what you helped me with!

[brent.roberts]

Sounds like you've won the battle, just got to clear the water and the war will be over.

The water is in pretty good shape. Should think about getting the alk down once you're swimming again and having some pleasure from the pool.

Have you been putting a bit of DE in your filter to help clear it. Get a bag from the pool store. Backwash and start filtering again ... not the pressure carefully.
Start adding the DE to the skimmer about a cup at a time until the pressure goes up 1 PSI. Walk away and leave the filter running. You'll see a big difference in the water in 24 hours.

I'd be thinking about putting the poly 60 algecide in about now too.

With the CC at 0 I think you could start to let the chlorine drift down over the next few days and then stabilize it to match you CYA.

[river-wear]

Just one question, Brent. What's DE?

[GraceByDesign]

DE = Diatomaceous Earth

[brent.roberts]

DE is as GracebyDesign pointed out, diatomateous earth.

This is a fine powder made of the shells of diatoms... little critters that lived millions of years ago. It has properties like charcoal, which is also used for filters. It is used as the filter media in DE pool filters and gives dramatically better filtering than sand.

Here is a great chart showing the differences
http://www.poolplaza.com/pool-filter-comparison-2.shtml

Dead algae are pretty small and sand filters do not do a great job of getting them out, so adding a bit of DE puts a thin layer on top of the sand and improves the filtering ability. It gets washed away when you backwash so if you like what it does, you need to add a few cups after each backwash.
DE is powder like and will blow around pretty easy, and is not good to inhale so use caution when putting it into the skimmer and watch where the backwash goes ... preferably down a drain.

[topless]

This is exactly the problem I'm having as well. (I'm not far from OK either)
I just ordered my test kit and my wife is heading out to pick up some extra bleach. I have fought mustard algae for the last couple of years.
I use 3" tablets, and if I understand what I've read, that could be part of my problem? I always have low ph and high total alky. I'm so tired of talking to young kids at the pool stores, who just don't know the answers.
I've put so much algaecide in my pool I'm afraid to swim and the algea seems to like it. Last year I used the Banish 2 times and the algae keeps coming back. I just used a quart of Leslie's Copper Algae stuff, let it sit for 2 days, vaccumed to waste, and this morning it looks just like before. At this point I'm ready to try anything.

[brent.roberts]

Hi Topless

Welcome to our forum. You will find lots of knowledgeable folks here that will hand hold you through the process of overcoming the algae.

If you have a couple of pool stores nearby, take a water sample to each and post your numbers here so we can get started. Actually it might be better if you started a new thread of your own when you have some test results, so we can keep the processes separate for you and Debs-pool

[debs_pool]

Well, I'm having to deal with algae again this year. And the constant rain is not making this any easier! :eek: But, I knew I'd posted this last year, and I all I had to do was look up this thread!

Thanks so much to all of you moderators and posters who helped me out before. I may be posting new numbers tomorrow. Or do I need to check them tonight too? I've dumped a ton (not literally - LOL) of bleach into the pool.

When I opened the pool early (so I wouldn't have to deal with algae) it was clear - and then - woosh! algae! :eek: So, I haven't even gotten to swim yet! :mad:

Thanks again for this forum! I appreciate all of you!

[heymom1]

You know, I think there is a lot of this stuff in the air or rain this year. It seems as if the pool stores are doing a good trade in algaecide...Every time I go in, there are scores of folks looking to get rid of mustard algae. Last year I had NO algae whatsoever. This year, another outbreak when we got back from vacation (no one to treat pool while we were gone). But not bad.

So now I know I have to keep the cl level quite high and run that filter 24/7. And get a decent testing kit.

This is a great forum.